Little Evidence That Treating Varicoceles In Men Boosts Pregnancy Rates Jul 28, 2008
ScienceDaily (July 28, 2008) A recent review of studies from the Netherlands finds no evidence that treating varicoceles a somewhat common condition in men with fertility problems improves a couple s chances of conceiving a baby ... Fertility experts have long thought that varicoceles, an enlarged group of veins within the scrotum, could be a cause of male fertility problems ... Varicoceles occur in 15 percent of all men, and in nearly 40 percent of men undergoing infertility treatment. (Science Daily)
Researchers develop simple treatment for male infertility Jul 25, 2008
The 226 of the patients' 228 varicoceles were successfully treated with embolization ... "Embolization of varicoceles in infertile men may be considered a useful adjunct to in-vitro fertilization," Dr. Flacke said ... If the valve becomes defective, blood does not properly circulate out of the testicles, which cause swelling and swollen veins in the male scrotum called a varicocele. (Newstrack India)
Simple Procedure Improves Male Fertility Jul 25, 2008
The condition, called varicocele, is a network of tangled blood vessels in the scrotum which prevents the normal circulation of blood through the veins in the testicles ... "Using the embolization of varicoceles, we were able to improve factors related to infertility, especially sperm count and sperm motility," said lead researcher Dr. Sebastian Flacke, an associate professor of radiology at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston ... In embolization, a small catheter is inserted into the... (MEDLINEplus)
Minimally Invasive Treatment Helps Infertile Men Jul 24, 2008
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Swollen veins in the scrotum, known as varicoceles, are a common cause of infertility in men -- now new research suggests that the problem can be effectively treated with a minimally invasive procedure called retrograde venous embolization ... The study, by Dr. Sebastian Flacke, from the University of Bonn Medical School in Germany, and colleagues, involved 223 infertile men with 228 varicoceles who underwent retrograde venous embolization ... Overall, 226 varicoceles... (MEDLINEplus)
Male Infertility Treatment Skips Surgery Jul 23, 2008
Varicocele Treatment May Reduce Need For Surgery Or In Vitro Fertilization ... Researchers say varicoceles, a tangled network of dilated or varicose veins in the scrotum, affect 10% to 15% of otherwise healthy men ... Varicoceles can interfere with sperm function and male fertility. (CBS News)
Minimally invasive treatment improves male fertility Jul 22, 2008
If the valves that regulate the blood flow from these veins become defective, blood does not properly circulate out of the testicles, causing swelling and a network of tangled blood vessels in the scrotum called a varicocele, or varicose vein. Varicoceles are relatively common, affecting approximately 10 percent to 15 percent of the adult male population in the U.S. According to the National Institutes of Health, most cases occur in young men between the ages of 15 and 25 ... Many varicoceles... (EurekAlert!)
Facing life without children when it isn't by choice Jun 11, 2008
Tsigdinos was tested, and the couple discovered that he suffered from varicocele, a blockage in blood flow to the penis that lowered his sperm count. Surgery corrected the problem. (International Herald Tribune)
AUA 2008: Maternal exposure to persistent organic pollutants linked to urologic conditions in boys May 15, 2008
Self-reported data on varicocele, cryptorchidism, hypospadias and other GU and reproductive conditions was compared to estimated maternal PBB levels at the time of conception. Of the sons whose mothers had measurable PBB levels at the time of conception, 35 reported GU conditions, including hernias (13), hydroceles (10), undescended testicles (9), hypospadias (5), phimosis (2) and varicocele (1). (EurekAlert!)
Regular Sex Is Key To Improved Male Fertility Oct 19, 2007
Male infertility can result from low sperm count, a varicocele, abnormal shape of the sperm and an underlying medical problem. However as the above study stresses, abstaining might damage sperm quality even more although the volume might increase substantially. (News Locale)
The latest about male infertility and testosterone from NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Oct 18, 2007
A first report shows that a common cause of male infertility -- varicoceles, or varicose veins in the scrotum -- also results in a depletion of testosterone. In a second related finding, researchers demonstrate that once a common, simple surgery is used to treat varicoceles and thereby restore fertility, testosterone levels are also improved ... In his research, Dr. Goldstein hypothesized, and later found that, the presence of varicoceles causes significantly lower testosterone levels. (EurekAlert!)
Nonsurgical Therapy Highly Effective For Pain And Infertility In Men Mar 22, 2007
Research shows that nonsurgical embolization is 98 percent effective, offers a lower recurrence rate and much quicker recovery than surgery for the treatment of varicoceles (varicose veins in the testicle and scrotum). Varicoceles can cause pain, atrophy or infertility and impact quality of life ... Varicoceles are a major, but underdiagnosed cause of infertility it is important for these patients to have an early diagnosis and quick management, said Maurizio Grosso, M.D., interventional... (Science Daily)
Surgery To Treat Male Fertility Dec 2, 2006
Researchers surmise that one of the leading causes of male infertility are varicose veins in the testicle or varicoceles. Varicoceles are a tied-up network of blood vessels that result from blood circulation problems ... German researchers used a technique called embolization that involves inserting a small catheter into the groin and pointing it into the varicocele. (All Headline News)
A 'cure' for infertile men Dec 1, 2006
Some researchers believe varicose veins in the testicle, varicoceles, are a leading cause of male infertility. Varicoceles, which are a tangled network of blood vessels, are caused by blood circulation problems ... Previous reviews of research have found that using open surgery to remove the varicoceles in sub-fertile men have not made any difference to their ability to conceive, but the researchers in Germany used a different technique called embolisation. (India Times, India -- Health/Science)
Surgery 'restores male fertility' Nov 30, 2006
Some believe varicoceles can reduce a man's sperm count ... This study confirms that varicocele repair can significantly improve sperm count and motility ... Some researchers believe varicose veins in the testicle, varicoceles, are a leading cause of male infertility. (BBC News -- Health)
Minimally Invasive Treatment Helps Infertile Couples Conceive Nov 30, 2006
"We found that spermatic vein embolization combined with anti-inflammatory treatment improves sperm motility and sperm count in infertile men with varicoceles," said Sebastian Flacke, M.D., assistant professor of radiology at the University of Bonn in Germany ... If the valves that regulate the blood flow from these veins become defective, blood does not properly circulate out of the testicles, causing swelling and a network of tangled blood vessels in the scrotum called a varicocele, or... (Science Daily)
Sperm Motility Predicts Fertility After Embolization Nov 30, 2006
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Men who have a high degree of sperm motility before undergoing spermatic vein embolization to correct a varicocele identifies patients who are likely to experience improved fertility, new research suggests ... Spermatic vein embolization is a nonsurgical, catheter-based technique conducted by interventional radiologists to correct varicoceles ... But sometimes the valves fail and the reversed blood flow stretches and enlarges small veins around the testicle to cause a... (MEDLINEplus)
Struggling with infertility Sep 14, 2006
My husband had varicocele that had to be treated surgically before we were able to get pregnant. I had to go through a hysto-salpingogram (I m sure I m not spelling this correctly) before anyone figured out it was my husband s problem. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
